Machine for printing facsimiles or the like



Jan. 14, 1941.

E. A. FORD MACHINE FOR PRINTING FACSIMILES OR THE LIKE Filed July 11,1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR gym 4 7 ATTORNEY JanJ-14, 1941. I F2,228,306

MACHINE FOR PRINTING FACSIMILES OR THE LIKE Filed July 11, 1939 3Sheets-Sheet 2 V i s m N 9", I I) INVNTOR 6 4 g?m/.

' ATroRNEY Jan. 14, 1941. E. A. FORD 2,228,306

MMJl-IINE FOR PRINTING FAGSIMILES OR THE LIKE Filed July 11, 1939 MR -l@20 My? 9 a I Ll 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 14,1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR PRINTING FAC SIMILES OR THELIKE Application July 11, 1939, Serial No. 283,837

6 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for printing facsimiles such assignatures on checks or the like and has for its general object the pro-.vision of a printing machine having improved printing mechanismcontrolled by record controlled means and from a predetermined set-updevice. Included with said printing mechanism is a novel removableinking roll therefor, and

provision is made for the removal of the roll from its inking positionwhen the machine is idle. A special container is provided for receivingthis roll to prevent drying of the ink regardless of the length of timethe machine is in disuse.

More specifically, it is the object of the instant invention to provideimproved printing means normally held inoperative but rendered operativeto efiect printing on predetermined portions of records upon passage ofsaid records into the printing position, that is, until a predeterminednumber of records have received imprints thereon, at which time apre-settable device renders the record controlled means ineffective tooperate the printing means.

Other objects of the invention will be pointe ed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention andthe best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of the machine partlycut away to show the set-up control mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken at 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken at 33 of Fig. 2.

4o Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view in sectionof the printing mechanismand the operating means therefor.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are wiring diagrams of the circuits of the machineunder diiferent operat- 45 ing conditions.

Feed mechanism It is contemplated to use checks in the form of recordcards C which are placed in a maga- 50 Zinc ID from which they are fedone by one by a card picker I into engagement with successive pairs offeed rolls l2, l3, and 14 which carry the cards eventually to receivingpocket l5, the cards being deflected downwardly into the pocket bydeflector spring l6. 1

The drive mechanism for the feed rolls includes a suitable drive motor20, pulley 20a, belt l9, pulley l8, shaft I I, through suitable gearconnections Ila to the feed rolls 12, I3 and I4. Thus, the feed rollsare in continuous rotation as long as the motor is operated. Suitableswitching means may be provided for starting and stopping the motor aswill be explained later in connection with the wiring diagrams.

Card lever mechanism 10 At the first of the three card feed rollpositions is a U-shaped card lever CL (Figs. 3, 4) which is pivoted on astud 22a fastened to a supporting bracket 22. The card lever is nor- 15mally actuated by a pin 2| which is moving continuously in a circularpath by virtue of the constant rotation of the feed roll l2 to which thepin is fixed. The actuation of the card lever consists of rocking itcounterclockwise about 20 the pivot stud from a position within the cardline as shown in Fig. 4 to a position wherein the upper arm of the cardlever lies just below the card line and substantially paralleltherewith. The card lever is restored to its normal position 25 by thelower strap of a pair of contact springs CLC which, incidentally, arelocated so as to be closed by the card lever when the latter is in itsoperated position.

At such times as cards are being fed from 30 the magazine ID, card leverCL is held in its retracted position by the passage of the cards,thereby causing the end of the lower arm of the card lever to bepositioned below rather than in abutting engagement with pin 23 on a camfol- 35 lower arm 24. This permits free movement of pin 23 and hence arm24 to the right as viewed in Fig. 4. Arm 24 is pivotally mounted at itsupper end on a bracket 22, and as the arm is permitted to swing to theright a roller 25a carried thereby operatively engages the periphery ofa cam 25 fixed to the feed roll shaft l2. The follower arm 24 alsocarries a roller 26 which cooperates with the rounded end of a latchinglever 21 of the printing mechanism in a manher to be describedpresently. When arm 24 moves to the right, roller 26 is removed from thepath of lever 21 which therefore remains in its normally latchedposition on pin 28. Under these conditions, printing plate P is held inthe operative printing position.

When cards stop feeding, the card lever CL is urged upwardly to itsnormal position under the bias of the lower strap of contacts CLC.During this movement, the lower arm of the card lever is positioned inthe path of pin 23 once more to prevent the arm 24 from becomingactively engaged with cam 25. With the card lever in the normalposition, roller 26 engages the rounded end of latching lever 27 onceduring each revolution of the printing mechanism so as to trip the leverfree of the pin 23 and permit the printing plate P to retract toward thefeed roll shaft l3 and hence out of printing position.

Printing mechanism The printing mechanism is located at the second feedroll station and comprises a U-section piece 3i! pivoted on a shaft 29so as to straddle the lower feed roll shaft l3. A coil spring 29acarried by shaft 29 connects the member 30 for counterclockwise rotationwith the feed roll. Integral with the U-section piece 38 is the printingplate P and pivotally mounted thereon is the latching lever 27 mentionedabove. The entire mechanism, including latch pin 28, rotates with thefeed roll. As long as lever 2'! remains latched on pin 28, the printingplate P is maintained in printing position so as to cooperatealternately with an inking roll 32 and a platen 58 during the course ofrotation of the plate, ink being taken by the plate from the roll 32 toefiect printing on the under side of the cards as they pass the platen58. However, in the event that the lever 21 is tripped, the printingplate will retract under the impetus of spring 29a so as to no longerengage with the platen. Plate P, once in its retracted position, isrestored to the printing position each revolution by cam plate 30a onmember 30. This is effected by contact of cam plate 3% with a roller 3!carried by bracket 22 which causes the U-section piece 30 to be cammedin a direction which opposes the bias of spring 29a so as to permit thelatching end of lever 21 to fall behind the latch pin 28. The cammingaction imparted to the member 3%) causes the printing plate P to bemoved outwardly from feed roll shaft 43:, and the printing plate to bemaintained in an outward position as long as lever 21 remains latched.

It should be kept in mind that the card lever and associated mechanismcontrol the position of the printing plate in accordance with whether ornot cards are feeding and that the printing plate is restored duringeach revolution in which it has been retracted so that it is preparedfor printing during the next revolution should a card have been fed bythe card lever by that time.

Inking mechanism The printing plate, as previously mentioned,

contacts with a felt inking roll 32 (Fig. 2) during every revolutionwhich causes a proper sup- "ply of ink to be provided on the inkingplate for printing its impression on the card. Ink is supplied from apump reservoir B (Fig. i) by a pump (not shown) which regulates thequantity of flow. From the pump reservoir the ink is carried by a tube33 which extends within the felt roll 32 and is provided with smallholes 34 at the position of the roll. Tube 33 being stationary and feltroll 32 being adapted for rotation about the tube, the ink isdistributed outwardly to the felt. The mounting for the felt includes atubing 35 with holes 36 therein to permit free flow of the ink frominside to outside.

When the machine is not in use, the felt roll is generally removed toprevent drying of the ink. To accomplish this it is necessary simply topull the knob 37 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2. The tubing 35, felt32 and locking springs 38 are all attached to the knob 31 andconsequently are removed as a unit. The roll is then slipped intocontainer 39 on a centralizing rod 48 which positions the roll properlywithin the tube. Also, tubing 35 has a rubber washer 4! which, whenplaced in the container, seals the opening to prevent circulation of theair from the outside to the inside of the container.

The inking roll assembly, when in inking position, is mounted on atubing 42 which has a bearing 43 carried by an arm 44 (Fig. 4) biasedupwardly toward the printing mechanism by means of a spring 44a. Anadjustable stop 44b is provided to limit the upward travel of arm 44 sothat the ink roll 32 may be adjusted to the desired pressure in relationto the printing plate P. The tubing 42 is driven by a frictional wheel awhich is of flexible construction to compensate for this pressureadjustment of the tubing. Wheel 54 engages an enlarged diameter portionof feed roll 55 which has a gear 56 fastened thereto and operable fromthe rotating drive of shaft l1.

Predetermined counter An additional function of cam arm 24 (Fig. 4) isto operate a predetermined counter through a link 53 connected to thelower end of arm 24 and extending to the counter, generally designated B(Fig. 1) to form a loose connection with an arm 60 extending outwardlyfrom a pivot 6! of the predetermined counter. In the normal operation ofthe counter, the link 53 transmits the required movement to arm 60 tostep the counter step by step toward the home position which is shown inFig. 1. When in this position, it will be noted that an operating lever63 pivoted at 64 is seated in the depressed portion of the periphery ofcircular cam plate 62. A pair of contacts'55, which are biased towardthe closed position, are held open by lever 63 at this time. Undernormal operating conditions, however, 1ever 63 is out of the depressedportion of cam plate 62 and consequently contacts 65 are permitted toclose. The purpose of these contacts is to prevent operation of themachine unless the counter is pre-set, as will become evident later inthe explanation of the circuit diagrams.

The diagrammatic disclosure of the counter in Fig. 1 is deemedsufficient in view of the fact that counters of this type are of commonknowledge in the art. The object of the counter is to permit the machineto be pre-set for the feeding of a specified number of cards and, atsuch times as that specified number has passed through the machine, thecounter will lock link $3 against movement and thus prevent cam arm 24from following cam '25. In this manner, a condition is created which isthe same as if the card lever L were allowed to move out of itsretracted position. Thus, it is seen that printing is renderedineffective either when no cards are feeding or when a specified numberof cards has been fed through the machine in accordance with thepredetermined setup of the counter.

In order to protect the predetermined counter against tampering by onenot in authority, the machine is provided with three key cylinder locksLl, L2, and L3, with special keys for operating them individually. Eachkey cylinder when in a locked position will in itself prevent'access tothe predetermined counter by keeping door 45 in a locked position. Inorder to set the counter, this doormust be opened by one of the specialkeys. Cylinders L2 and L3 are provided with cam operating portions 55and 69 respectively which, when in locked position, engage arm 51pivotally carried by shaft 58, thereby preventing turning of the shafton which latch 59 is attached, so that the latch point of latch 59remains over the end of door 45 and secures it against opening. A pairof contacts 51a, normally open but biased toward the closed position,are controlled by the position of arm 51.

Key cylinder Ll has an extra function, i. e., that of lifting pawl 5|.out of engagement with ratchet 52 so as to unlock the drive, the onlypurpose of the ratchet wheel being to prevent the machine from being runby hand when key cylinder Ll is locked. Ratchet 52 has drivingconnection with shaft I! so that turning of this shaft manually may notoccur while pawl 5| is seated in a tooth of the ratchet. When the pawlis moved up out of the ratchet it closes a pair of contacts 49 which areconnected in the start circuit of the machine as will be explainedpresently.

' Circuits The circuits of the machine are simple as is evidenced by thedisclosure in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. Each of these figures shows a diagram ofthe circ'uits under diiferent assumed conditions, and each will now beconsidered in turn.

Referring to Fig. 5, it is noted that key cylinder LI has been operatedto close contacts 49, that cam plate 52 has actuated lever 63 to closecounter contacts 65 denoting a pre-setting of the counter, and that keycylinders L2, L3 remain locked so as to hold contacts 51a open.Depression of start key closes contacts ST to complete a circuit fromline H, motor relay magnets MR, contacts 65, card control relay CR startkey contacts ST, contacts 49, to line 12. The purpose of motor relaymagnets MR is to operate a pair of contacts MR-l and MR-Z to complete acircuit to the motor 29 through these contacts and contacts 49. Thepurpose of card control relay CR is to prevent starting the machine byany other means than depressing the start key. Once the card controlrelay is energized it closes a pair of contacts CR-l to complete acircuit in conjunction with the card lever contacts CLc for maintainingthe machine in operation until a predetermined number of cards have beenfed through the machine according to the counter set-up. The circuit istraceable from line H magnets MR, contacts 65, card control relay CR,contacts CR--I and card lever contacts CLc both now closed, stop keycontacts SP, to line 12. Thus it is seen that when contacts 65 openafter a predetermined number of cards have been fed, the motor relaymagnets MR are deenergized and their contacts MRI, MR2 open the motorcircuit.

In Fig. 6, all the keys are unlocked and the machine may be run whetherthe counter is pre-set or not. Assuming that the counter is not pre-set,then the start circuit passes through contacts 51a rather than contacts65. The motor circuit is the same, and the motor control circuit is thesame except for contacts 51a being in the circuit in place of contacts65.

When all three keys are locked, as illustrated in Fig. 7, the machinecannot be run whether the counter is pre-set or not. Even if the counteris pre-set, as shown, no start circuit may be completed because contacts49 are open. Thus, magnets MR. remain deenergized'keeping the motor atrest.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamentalnovel features of the invention as applied to a single modification itwill be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changesin the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operationmay be made by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limitedonly as indicated by the scope of th following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a card holding-magazine, aprinting station, means for feeding cards successively from the magazineto and past the printing station, printing means at said stationincluding a printing drum comprising a shiftable U-shaped member with aprinting plate mounted thereon and a platen adjacent thereto incontinuous rotation during operation of the feeding means for printingon predetermined portions of said cards, means normally biasing theprinting plate away from the platen, means for shifting said printingplate toward the platen during each revolution of said drum, restrainingmeans cooperating with the'shifting means for'overcoming the effect ofthe biasing means to keep the printing plate in an operative position,and card controlled means actuated in accordance with the passage ofcards between the magazine and the printing station for controlling thereleasing of the restraining means so as to determine whether theprinting plate is to remain in printing engagement with the platenduring each revolution of the drum.

2. A printing machine comprising a magazine for holding record cards, aprinting station, means for feeding the cards one by one from the hopperto and past the printing station, printing means at said stationincluding a printing drum comprising a shiftable U-shaped member with aprinting plate thereon and a platen adjacent thereto, means connectingthe printing means with the feeding means for rotating the drum and theplaten in predetermined relationship with said feeding means so thatprinting may be effective on preselected portions of the cards, camoperated means for moving the U-shaped member to its printing positionduring each revolution of the drum, means normally biasing said memberout of printing position, means for latching said member in itsnon-printing position so as to overcome the effect of the biasing means,and card controlled means actuated in accordance with the passage ofcards between the hopper and the printing station for controlling thereleasing of the member from the latching means so as to determinewhether the printing plate is to remain in printing engagement with theplaten during each revolution of the drum.

3. A printing machine comprising a card holding magaiine, a printingstation including a rotatable printing plate and a platen, means forfeeding record cards one by one from the magazine to the printingstation so as to cause said cards to pass between said plate and saidplaten, means for rotating the plate and the platen in fixed relationwith the feeding means, card controlled means normally holding saidprinting plate away from said platen but actuated upon engagement withcards in their passage from the magazine to the printing station tocause said plate to be moved into printing engagement with the platen toeffect printing on predetermined portions of said cards, andpre-settable means controlling the feeding means as to the number ofcards to be fed for rendering the card controlled means inefiective tocause printing movement of the printing plate after such number of cardshas been fed thereby.

4. A printing machine comprising a record holding magazine, a printingstation including a printing drum comprising a shiftable U-shaped memberhaving a type carrier thereon and a platen adjacent thereto, means forfeeding a record from the magazine to and past the printing station,means at the printing station for biasing the U-shaped member to aninoperative position, a record controlled lever intermediate themagazine and the printing station normally permitting said biasing meansto be effective to hold the type carrier in a non-printing position, camoperated means for camming the type carrier into printing positionduring a feeding operation, latching means cooperating with the camoperated means to hold the type carrier in operative printing positionwith respect to the platen, means normally effective upon completion ofthe printing operation for tripping the latching means to cause the typecarrier to be biased to its non-printing position, and means controlledby the record control lever as long as records are passing from themagazine to the printing station for rendering the tripping meansineffective.

5. A printing machine comprising a card holding magazine, a printingstation including printing plate mounted on a shiftable support and aplaten adjacent said plate, drive means for feeding record cards one byone from the magazine to the printing station and for rotating theprinting plate and platen in fixed relationship, a spring normallypositioning said plate in a nonprinting position, cam operated meanseffective during each revolution of the printing plate for shifting saidplate to the printing position by overcoming the action of the spring, alatch for holding the plate in said printing position, means normallyeffective for tripping the plate off the latch during the samerevolution in which it is latched, a card controlled lever for renderingthe tripping means ineffective as long as cards are feeding, andpresettable means for rendering the tripping means efiective after apredetermined number of cards has been fed past the rinting station soas to cause the plate to be returned by the spring to its non-printingposition.

6. In a printing machine including a printing plate and a platen andmeans for rotating said plate and platen to effect a rolling print onrecord material there'between, inking means for said plate including aninking roll and perforated tubing extending internally therein, meansfor supplying ink through the perforations in said tubing to said inkingroll including means for imparting relative rotation between the rolland the tubing, said roll contacting the printing plate during eachrevolution of the latter and prior to the printing operation to supplythe ink for efi'ecting the imprint on the record material, and saidinking roll being readily removable from its operating position andbeing provided with a sealing Washer, a receptacle being provided intowhich said roll may be placed when not in use adapted to be sealed bythe washer upon insertion of the roll fully into said receptacle.

EUGENE A. FORD.

